ROAD TO THE TOP BUMPY FOR THE CLASS OF `82

Linda YoungCHICAGO TRIBUNE

For one, the journey to the major leagues has merely taken a detour. For another, the trip has turned foggy. For the third, professional baseball has been, literally, a pain.

Three years ago, Bob Kipper, Robert Jones and Scott Jones held the baseball world in the palm of their hands. In 1982, Kipper, a dominating left- handed pitcher out of Aurora Central Catholic, Robert Jones, a ferocious-hitting first baseman from Proviso East, and Scott Jones, a hard-throwing pitcher from Class AA state champion Hinsdale South, were all first-round selections in major league baseball`s free-agent draft.

Kipper and Scott Jones signed professional contracts immediately, Kipper with the California Angels and Jones with the Cincinnati Reds. Robert Jones, also drafted by the Reds, turned his back on a professional contract, opting for a college career at Southern Illinois University.

Kipper, after a brief early-season stop in Anaheim, is pitching his way back into shape with the Angels` Double A Midland affiliate in the Texas League. The 21-year-old recently came off the disabled list after missing a month with back spasms.

Robert Jones is spending his second summer hitting line drives in the prestigious Cape Cod League, where many top collegiate players compete. After three years of an up-and-down college career, Jones was selected again in this year`s free-agent draft--this time in the 27th round.

Scott Jones is at home in unincorporated Hinsdale. Two years ago, his arm popped when he tried to throw an overhand curve, a pitch unnatural to him. After months of visits to three specialists, a stress fracture was diagnosed. Jones` elbow healed slowly, but in the process, he ruined his left shoulder and was released during spring training. He`s now under therapy and hoping somebody will recognize he can still pitch.

These are their stories:

BOB KIPPER

Bob Kipper walked off the mound in Midland June 15 with a smile on his face and only a slight twinge of pain in his back. He had pitched four innings, an off outing by normal standards, but not on this night, considering the back spasms.

''I`ve got to look at it positively. This is a setback,'' said Kipper, who hadn`t pitched since May 3. ''I guess the good Lord wants to see how I can bounce back.''

Kipper, with just 2 1/2 seasons of professional experience behind him, pitched his way onto the Angels` big league roster during spring training. After two outings, a little more than three innings and a 21.60 earned-run average in the season`s first three weeks, the Aurora lefty had pitched his way back to the minors. Kipper was sent to Double A instead of Triple-A Edmonton because there was snow in Edmonton.

''I wasn`t getting much work, so it didn`t really matter that they sent me down,'' Kipper said. ''I wasn`t really disappointed because you`ve got to look at this as a long-term thing. They explained to me that I had a good shot to get back up. Then I came here, got some work in, then my back went out and I`m back to square one.''

The back problem is a recurrence of a similar injury which kept Kipper inactive for two weeks last season. His main concern is avoiding further pain. ''I definitely don`t want to push anything. Another setback might ruin my chances to get back up,'' he said.

Kipper is convinced he will pitch in Anaheim Stadium again, but he isn`t rushing things.

''When I first signed, instead of worrying about pitching, I worried about how fast I`d get to the big leagues,'' he said. ''Now I concentrate on what`s important. I know I can pitch in the big leagues because I`ve done it. It didn`t work out the first time, but they`re trying to win ballgames, not make me happy.

''But I`m not going to let a lot of things bother me. That`s why I`m just going to take it one day at a time.''

ROBERT JONES

Southern Illinois` sports information office had the press release ready. With seven games to play, Robert Jones needed just one home run to tie Dave Stieb`s Saluki school record of 12. Stieb is one of the aces of the Toronto Blue Jays` pitching staff.

In 50 games, Jones had 50 hits, 40 runs batted in and 11 home runs. He finished with 54 hits, 43 RBIs, 11 home runs and a .315 batting average. He hit .309 as a freshman and .267 last season. The slump prompted scouts to shy away and he was left dangling in the draft until Milwaukee picked him in the 27th round.

(in Harwich, Mass.), I`m going to prove that,'' said Jones, who has moved to the outfield. ''For the rest of my life in baseball, I`m going to have fun playing it. I haven`t had fun playing in the last three years. I`ll never again do that.''

Jones doesn`t regret turning his back on the bonus money three years ago, however.

''I`m much more mature now than when I got out of high school,'' he said. ''I can handle lots of different situations in business and baseball that I couldn`t before. There`s lots of things you mature enough to learn while you`re in college.''

Jones might sign with the Brewers. He might wait for January`s supplemental draft, hoping his summer statistics rekindle scouts` interest. He could return for a fourth season with the Salukis. Or, he might trade in his double-knit uniform for a suit and tie when he finishes his degree in radio and television.

''After the draft, I was in a state of shock, but now I feel okay,'' said Jones. ''It`s time to go on. Whatever happens, I`ll be able to smile. I can get a degree, or I can play ball. Whatever it is, I`ll be happy.''

SCOTT JONES

The voice on the other end of the telephone belonged to a representative of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Yes, the spokesman said, the Pirates, like the Cubs, the Mets and the Brewers, would be interested in signing Scott Jones to a minor-league contract. But how`s the shoulder?

''I had to tell them the truth, that my shoulder`s killing me,'' Jones said.

Terror gripped at Jones when he started throwing again after missing much of the 1983 season with the elbow injury. He was afraid he might hurt it again, so much so that he changed his delivery and, consequently, developed bicep tendinitis in the left shoulder.

He can throw now and, although he will likely never again stop a radar gun at 92 miles an hour as he did three years ago, he can still throw strikes. But, with the strikes, comes the pain.

''The only real pain is when I try to let loose. It`s in the front part of the shoulder,'' said Jones, who is regularly taking therapy and medication for the ailment. ''All the clubs tell me the same thing. They say when I get healthy, they`ll look at me again.''

Jones pitched well in spring training, giving up no earned runs in 13 innings. He thought he would be ticketed for Triple-A Denver in the American Association. Instead, the Reds, seeing that his velocity was gone, released him.

''It`s like being drafted No. 1, then all of a sudden three years later you`re out . . . well that would be tough on anybody,'' said Jones, who is taking summer classes at College of Du Page and playing with the semipro Park Ridge Orioles. He plans to enroll at the University of Illinois this fall to study architectural engineering. ''But I`ve just got to grit my teeth and go on with my life.

''I can`t mope around. Heck, I`m just 21, I`m still a little pup. I`m not going to give up on this until I know it`s over.''